Evidence shows that Cul7 mediates the degradation of the serine phosphorylation-inhibited IRS-1, leading to the removal of IRS-1 with a blocked tyrosine phosphorylation site, thereby enabling IRS-1-mediated PI3K/AKT signal transduction, induced cancer stem cell-like features and drug resistance to trastuzumab. This evidence concerns the gene IRS1 and cancer.